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Palestriped Flea Beetle (Systena blanda)
Photo#212714
Copyright © 2008
Ron M.
Flea Beetle -
Systena blanda
Kenner, Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, USA
August 11, 2008
Size: 4mm
Images of this individual:
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Contributed by
Ron M.
on 11 August, 2008 - 6:34pm
Last updated 14 October, 2010 - 7:47am
Don't look now but
It looks like two of the mm marks on your ruler got up and walked away!
…
Skip Blanchard
, 12 August, 2008 - 11:11am
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Too funny!
I hadn't seen it that way until you mentioned it. FUNNY :o)
…
Ron M.
, 13 August, 2008 - 9:16am
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Try Systena
possibly
S. elongata
.
…
Michael C. Thomas
, 11 August, 2008 - 11:12pm
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Thanks Mike.
I had suggested
Systena elongata
on the first images in this series. Currently we have only one image filed under
S. elongata
and the comment on that images mentions that the "...red head is somewhat troubling" -
Tim R. Moyer
.
Here is a link to an image
on the North Dakota State University site of their
S.elongata
with a black head and pronotum.
Your arriving at this same conclusion helps. I feel more confident in my assessment.
Do you think I should move it to species or genus or even keep it here a couple of days?
And thanks again for your interest!
…
Ron M.
, 12 August, 2008 - 1:52am
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more likely Systena blanda
this couplet comes from the key for Systena of Alabama
Prothoracic and elytra ground color black..... S. elongata
Prothoracic and elytral ground color light brown or yellow..... S. blanda
The description of Systena blanda:
Elongate oval. Head red-brown. Pronotum shining, yellow, lateral margins brown. Elytra closely punctate; brown, more darkly so along suture, and each elytron with median yellow vitta. Prosternum and legs yellow-brown, meso and metathorax and abdomen black. Length 3.2-3.9 mm. Width 1.4-1.8 mm
I´ll check the key from Downy and Arnett later
…
Rob Westerduijn
, 14 August, 2008 - 6:36pm
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I'll agree
What bothered me about identifying this as
S. blanda
though was the clearly black elytra, although the pronotum is red. As adults attain their mature coloration following emergence from the pupal stage they can go through red to black but never from black to red.
…
Michael C. Thomas
, 15 August, 2008 - 7:41am
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Thanks for the information.
I created a guide page
HERE
for
Systena blanda
- Palestriped Flea Beetle but I will wait until after you check the key before moving it there.
Thanks again Rob!
…
Ron M.
, 15 August, 2008 - 6:26am
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Systena blanda
I checked Downy and Arnett; there are no additional striped species for the north-east and its keys to S. blanda here as well.
…
Rob Westerduijn
, 15 August, 2008 - 8:55am
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Thanks to both...
Thanks for your help Rob and Mike!
…
Ron M.
, 15 August, 2008 - 9:09am
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